I want it back

The whole title should be “I want my breasts back, thank you.” I have been breastfeeding for almost 6 months since baby J turns  6 months old this coming April 11. I cannot believe I have actually lasted this long. One of the most pressing reasons that I have been able to do so is that I resigned from my job thinking that 2 months maternity leave is too short and it is. I gloried in the ability to spend as much time and give as much attention to my little one  is these precious first few months. However there are other things that I think really helped me continue even though I thought I couldn’t last a month.

1. Breastfeeding information and support – I’d like to thank my friend Jane for acting like a breastfeeding helpdesk! I would text her at all hours and she unfailingly gave me support and information in those first few days of craziness. I had also surfed the internet for information on breastfeeding and what to expect. I repeated to myself the many benefits breastfeeding would give to both mother and child. I also resigned myself to being half naked every 2 hours or so. Hehehe.

2. My Breastfriend breastfeeding pillow – Not only does it go all around your waist and fasten but it is quite firm and can support you little one as he feeds. My arms used to get so tired holding up the little guy nevermind if he was just 5 pounds or so. Try holding the same position for half an hour to 45 mins and do it every 2 hours or so. I found out about this pillow from an officemate who also used one and had breastfed her children for months. It is a godsend.

3. Entertainment – or more specifically something to do while breastfeeding. In my case I always had my Nintendo DS with me. I played all sorts of games and managed to finish off some of the RPGs as well. At night I couldn’t very well watch TV as hubby would wake up and TV is kinda useless if I can’t hear what they’re saying. Oh but playing on my DS didn’t need sound and I was fully entertained while baby J took his time eating.

4. A good pump – Of course after a month of being shackled indoors you’d want to go out and have some fun but cannot very well bring the baby with you. We bought the Medela Pump in Style Advanced and although it looked and felt a little freaky at first I am now at ease pumping my milk. Storage guidelines are easy enough to follow and training our help in how to warm up the milk was easy. 

5. A session with a lactation consultant – Baby J was around 5 months old when his checkup revealed he didn’t gain enough weight. So I thought my milk production was going down and recommended to start supplementing with formula. Good thing I opted to meet with an LC and it turns out I had lumps in my breasts because baby J wouldn’t finish one breast so the flow of milk slowed down. I actually had a lot of milk! She was able to teach me how to improve the flow and another bfing position.

  There are times when I still sigh as my son grabs my shirt in his hunger. But when I see all the good breastmilk has done for him I’m so proud. I am looking for work now but do not regret resigning at all.

To supplement or not to supplement

At Joao’s five month check-up we confirmed what my family has been feeling for the past few weeks, he didn’t gain enough weight. For a baby who was gaining at least half a kilo for the past few months this was a surprise. I was already feeling that I wasn’t producing enough milk and when I pumped it wasn’t as much as before.  ”Was this it?” I was thinking. Are we finally switching over to formula? I voiced my concerns to our pedia and she recommended that we supplement with formula after I feed Joao from both breasts. She also said we could start him on rice cereal  in the morning.

I admit I was a bit disappointed in myself since I have a friend who is still breastfeeding her son at over a year and a half. She however once broached the idea to me of a lactation consultant so I thought if there was any time to have a lactation consultant see me, it would be now. 

I coordinated with Ms. Zeny to come see me last week. I wasn’t really sure what to expect since I had to prepare towels and a basin of hot water. Turns out it was a part massage part consultation on exactly how I have been breastfeeding. She immediately was able to identify that I had lumps in my breasts and I told her that I have had plugged ducts in the past. She told me that this was because Joao wasn’t fully finishing the milk in one breast thus the lumps were formed. She helped improve the circulation of the milk and said that I could actually produce 6 to 8 ounces! I’ve never done that before but I was amazed at how much milk flowed after our session. 

Joao however has not been that cooperative in finishing off the milk in my breasts. In order to avoid engorgement I would pump in the morning when he’s full from his rice cereal and then feed him the extra milk in the afternoon. We had actually bought a very expensive can of formula but Joao refuses to drink it! I don’t know whether to be happy or sad. It was very expensive eh. 

I hope to have another consultation with Ms. Zeny soon. I didn’t like the thought of having to result to formula but was more scared on Joao’s little weight gain. We’ll see if my efforts come to fruitition in his next pedia appointment.